The Captaintreacherous sophomore filly Jordanna Hanover again kicked home strongly to win her second straight race, here lowering her mark by a tick to 1:53 in taking the $22,222 distaff pacing feature on Monday, May 19 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Patrick Ryder had Jordanna Hanover (pictured above) on the back of the first-over Selinas Choice as she went up after favoured pacesetter Big City Daisy, who made two moves in fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:24.4. Selinas Choice corralled the favourite, but Ryder still had a fresh horse in front of him turning for home, and the pair won by 2-1/2 lengths over the first-over horse, with second choice Shangri La Hanover, caught behind the tiring pacesetter, salvaging the show. Tom Fanning trains the developing filly for Fanning Racing, which consists of him and his wife Moira.
The Tactical Landing gelding four-year-old Reggianito turned some heads when he won by a country mile in one of two $20,833 co-featured trots while posting a new mark of 1:53.4. Reggianito moved out behind cover down the backstretch, looped that horse and soon circled to grab the lead, then stormed home in :27.3. Tyler Buter drove the Ohio invader for trainer John Butenschoen and Berg Brothers Racing.
In the other co-featured trot, second choice Wapiti Blue Chip followed the cover of favoured One More Volo the last half, then had the most late to catch that rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:55. Braxten Boyd drove the three-year-old altered son of International Moni, who won his first race in three seasonal starts, for trainer Mahlon Martin and the ownership of Ashley Burslem, Steven Muller and Gregory Garton.
Tyler Buter and Anthony Napolitano shared the day’s driving honours with three victories apiece. Buter, the track’s leading driver, now has 36 wins in the 11 days of May racing at the northeast Pennsylvania oval.
The racing week concludes on Tuesday, May 20, with first post at 1 p.m. The featured performer will be Chapolier, the winningest trotter in North America this season, as he goes for his 11th straight victory, all of them this year at the mountain oval, in the $16,000 USD 10th race feature (and Buter is listed to drive). Stakes action will return to Pocono next Monday with Pennsylvania All-Stars competition for three-year-old trotting fillies.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono Downs)